Bicyclists can ride on the street and won’t have to be within 5 feet of the curb anymore, unless there is a “usable” bike path next to the street.
That’s the primary impact of an overhaul of bicycle laws city council members approved unanimously this morning. The changes also eliminate the need to license bicycles with the city and the need to use a bike rack if one is available within a city block.
Bicyclists praised the changes and the city’s outreach to riders in crafting the law. But they questioned what the definition of a “usable” path is and how it will be enforced. City officials said it comes down to what a reasonable person would consider a “usable” path.
To loosen the law more than that would require changes to state law, which overrules local ordinances. 
Cyclists fear they’ll have to ride on sidewalks where available. That is considered one of the most dangerous places to ride by many riders and national bicycle advocacy groups because sidewalks usually have of a lot of debris, uneven concrete slabs and low visibility to drivers who are turning onto side streets or pulling out onto another street.
Ben Sciortino, who is liaison to local government for the Oz Bicycle Club, said the group plans to push for changes to state law to clarify that cyclists have a right to ride on roads.
City Council member Jim Skelton said he believes riders should decide what is “usable.”
“I don’t want to see a judge deciding what is usable,” he said.